Experimental and numerical investigation of annular granular shear flows

Shear flows of granular materials represent unique type of flow and deformation in complex systems. When a pack of granular material is subject to shearing the strain field is non-uniform. A shear-zone is developed in the vicinity of the shearing wall in which grains are rapidly flowing. However, the regime of deformation varies exponentially with the distance from the shearing wall. In other words, sheared granular materials display both fluid- and solid-like behaviors across the sheared gap.